August 30, 2012 Seattle Cancer Treatment Center

What a day this has been.  We are in Renton, just south of Seattle.  Leland had his appointment at the Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center today.  We were there for 3 1/2 hours.  His records were reviewed, he was examined and seen by two Oncologists, one Medical and one Naturopathic.

His cancer has been quite agressively advancing while we have been treating it "naturally and non-toxically." And making him sick in the process.   The doctors today were quite clear that unless something positive is done very soon to arrest it, he will not make it much longer.  I could see him fading away before my eyes for the last three weeks,  and he felt it, so it was not hard to convince us.

Bottom Line:  Tomorrow he begins his treatments which will consist of several Naturathic treatments designed to complement Low Dose Chemotherapy at about 25% of the normal dose and given once weekly rather than every three weeks.  We had understood Chemo was not an option in his case, and we had both said many times we would never submit to it.  However, this type of delivery is easier on the patient, and more effective, according to the Doctors here. So with very few options that seem to make any sense for him, we decided to go for it.  The decision was also driven by earnest prayer for wisdom and doors to open or shut.  This seems like an open door and we are walking through it in faith. 

We had a good trip here; Leland was able to eat well for the last two days, as we had taken him off all the stuff he was taking before. But then last night was very painful  which his pain meds helped very little. He ended up in a bed at the clinic today, as the appt was long, he was in pain and tired.  We do not think this will be easy; neither has what we have been doing, but we are hoping for better results.

He was given a stronger prescription for pain today, which seems to be helping and some meds to go along with the treatment for tomorrow, which he was unable to keep down.  We got 4 extra pillows from house keeping at our hotel, and he is sleeping on the couch in our room on top of about 5 pillows, which is a lot more comfortable for him.  The bed is like a board compared to our bed at home, and it is impossible for him to sleep in it. I don't much like it either, but can tolerate it a lot better than he can. Otherwise the room is comfortable and adequate.

The plan is for his first treatment to be done tomorrow morning then we head for home. 

Thank you Del and Chuck for the surprise supper you brought out to us on Tuesday evening, and the car cleaning you did-we so appreciated it.  And while we are gone, Bob and Annie are going to spray the clover in our our lawn; it seems to be taking over, Bob noticed it and offered to spray it for us.  Thank you so much.  Kathy is cleaning house for us on Friday, a real labor of love, and we have been given lots of garden produce.  We feel very loved and cared for.  We are thankful for so much even in the midst of this trying time, knowing that God has a plan, and as long as we trust Him, he will walk with us through the fire.